Happy New Year!
Christmas and New Years were quiet here which suits us. We’re not big partiers so staying in worked for us. Our upstairs neighbors also stayed in - along with about 50,000 of their closest friends. I think they were having a dance marathon :)
Relief is beginning to get to the victims of the tsunami/earthquake tragedy in Asia. We talked about it and made a contribution because it seemed like the right thing to do. Me, I couldn’t have lived with myself otherwise. I was telling my father about this Friday night at dinner and he explained why he didn’t feel he could donate - retirement, house taxes and utilities going up and so forth. Of course he also mentioned the lure of the possibility of another cruise later that evening.
I did a lot of reading this past week and that was a pure joy :) Being able to pick up a book and traipse through the story for a few hours (rather than a snatched few minutes here and there) was heaven! I also watched a lot of movies which was also fun. We were able to find a copy of Galaxy Quest on DVD for a good price and so replaced our VHS tape. Not a world beater as far as the critics were concerned and a niche film at best, it is one of my favorites. The casting is perfect and the story is perfectly paced. And it’s funny - really funny.
There was also some good news as far as the sale of our apartment building and our continued tenancy here is concerned. The building was purchased, papers signed last week. Our new landlords stopped by a couple of days later to introduce themselves and explain how they saw things. They do not want us to move and were quite pleased that we’ve been here so long (almost 15 years). They do not want to raise the rent (at least not right now, anyway) and they were perfectly happy that we have pets. They have a dog themselves and don’t see any reason that we shouldn’t have the cats. Those points were all things we had been worried about and now, it seems, don’t have to be too concerned with any more. In a while we’ll ask about putting the bird feeder back up. You never know!
They are a young couple who are expecting their first child - a girl - about the middle of March. So I decided to haul some pink out of the stash (Bernat So Soft) that had been ripening there for a couple of years and make this:
5 hour baby sweater
Matching bonnet
As you can see, they aren’t completely finished. They both need ties and I’ve been doing the I-cord vs. Ribbon debate in my head. I think the ribbon’s going to win - just because it’s prettier. That means I have to get some :) There’s also the possibility of a blanket though I’m not absolutely committed to that just yet.
I also started the Marks and Kattens socks and a pair of mitts for Myria. More about those later :) And I’ve been redesigning the blog - more on that later too.
Happy Monday!
*For what it’s worth, the pattern at this link states that the correct cast-on number should be 33 stitches. I tried three times to get this to work. Then I tried the original number of 34 stitches and that did the trick for me :)
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i’ve made the 5-hour sweater before and never have hit the ‘5-hour’ mark either- heck, i can drag it out for 5 days without half trying! yours is pretty and i know it will be a welcome addition to a baby wardrobe- ribbon will look nice too, but i always tack the ribbon ties at the neck edge even when there are eyelets for running them through-
i can’t seem to wrap my tiny brain around the fact that it is already ‘another year’- the older i get, the faster time seems to move-
we’ve donated to the relief efforts- i think the american public is going to remember we are all citizens of the same planet and this tragedy affects all of us in some way-
i missed yarnpath during your break- so good to see you back-
stay happy-
Barb - I expect the sweater will take me less time the next time I make it. For a first effort, I don’t feel too bad about 9 hours :) It was fascinating to watch it take shape.
I’m with you on stitching the ribbons rather that threading them through the eyelets. I think it will be a much nicer and more finished look.
That movie IS hilarious. I love the part with the huge chopping blades and Sigourney’s like, “what possible reason is there to have big choppy things?” or something like that. What a riot. That sweater is soooo cute. You’ll get your bird feeder back for sure!
Laura - I love it when they get through the chopper and she shrieks “This episode was badly written!”
Thanks for the sweater compliment and the good bird-feeder thought :)
Robbyn: Happy New Year! The sweater and bonnet are beautiful. I’m happy to hear that things are working out with your new landlords. It makes it easier to sleep at night knowing you’ll be there for awhile.
Cheryl - Thanks for your kind thoughts! No one’s happier than me to know I won’t be going anywhere for a while :)
Whew! Good to have you back. Now my knitting world is on track for 2005. 
Galaxy Quest - one of my favs too - I watched it on TV just last week.
I’ve never made that particular baby sweater, but it’s on my list...as soon as someone I knew gets pregnant. :::grin:::
Happy New Year!
Bron - Vacations are nice, but it’s always good to be back :) I know when you’re busy and don’t post, there’s always a hole in my day.
"Galaxy Quest?” One of our faves! Ta’ heck with the critics.
And the sweater and bonnet are adorable. I definitely vote for ribbon!
Ryan - Yee hah! I didn’t know so many people enjoyed it - to me, it just gets funnier every time :)
I’m decided on the ribbon - now I just have to find something I like!
Happy New Year to you and yours, Robbyn, and a pat on the head to the cats! The baby sweater looks really cute. I’m sure the recipients will be delighted.
Beautiful sweater and bonnet. I think that the ribbon would look very nice. I’ve made this pattern several times too and always seem to need to adjust the pattern a bit.
Love the new set up on your blog!!
~ DAWN
Anne - Thank you, and to you and yours too!
General Ginger - I’m glad to hear that others finesse patterns too - makes me feel like not quite such a stoopnagle :)
Dawn - Hey, it was time for a change! I love the Celtic look but a person can only stand so much bagpipes, you know? Hehehe…
What a great surprise this morning :) I love the look. That is just great about your new landlords and put your questions in your mind to rest. ew, not sure what is happening with the ‘live preview’ above! Anyone have the same problem? Anyway, your pink sweater set is so cute. Ah, your amount of time for reading sounded lovely :)
PJ - We’re working on the Live Preview stuff - looks pretty funny, doesn’t it? Something happened, apparently during the update last night.
Glad you like the new look!
love the new digs - looks great! Happy New Year to you and yours!
Cheers
nat
Nat - Thanks. I have great hopes for this year :)
